546 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



DIARRHCEA, OR LOOSENESS. 



Symptoms. — This disease and dysentery have fre- 

 quently been confounded, although they are sufficiently 

 different in their characters. Diarrhoea consists in an 

 unusual discharge from the mucous membrane of the 

 intestines, and is always accompanied by pain, gripings, 

 and frequent stools, but unaccompanied by fever ; 

 nor is there any blood or slime : it almost always 

 occurs in the spring ; weak sheep and hogs being most 

 liable to its attacks. In this disease there is only a 

 temporary or partial wasting of the flesh, while in 

 dysentery a rapid diminution of the muscular fibre 

 takes place. 



Cause. — Sudden changes from poor to rich 

 pasturage ; and bad food will induce it. 



Remedies. — It is not prudent to stop this disease 

 too rapidly ; but it is equally wrong to allow it to con- 

 tinue too long, as, if the discharge is either too long 

 continued, or the purging very copious, it brings on 

 great debility. If caused by change from dry to moist 

 food, then it will be proper to resume the dry feeding 

 for a time, which will generally effect a cure within a 

 few days. 



If a change of food does not prove effectual, give 

 the animal half an ounce of prepared chalk in a pint 

 of cow's milk, slightly w^armed. If the purging has 

 not been subdued by this, it may be repeated on the 

 second day. If the discharge is very great, and 

 accompanied by symptoms of pain and straining, two 

 drachms of rhubarb may be given as a first dose, and 

 chalk as a second. If this has not the effect of re- 

 lieving the animal, then from twenty to thirty drops 

 of laudanum may be given with advantage, and after- 

 wards the chalk, as above recommended. 



